Dodgers Scariest Offseason Scenarios

Mandatory Credit: Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

4. Not selling high on Andre Ethier

Arguably my hottest Dodger take, the Dodgers need to trade Ethier this offseason. I’ve been saying it for the last three years, but this time it’s for a different reason.

Ethier had an incredible bounceback year and should receive real consideration for Comeback Player of the Year. He was arguably the Dodgers’ most consistent and dependable offensive threat last year and it’s hard to see the Dodgers winning 92 games had they moved Ethier last offseason.

Ethier will be 34 next April, is purely a platoon player at this point and is about to finish his 10th year of service time with the Dodgers. By doing this, Ethier will receive 10-5 rights for playing 10 years in the league and five for the same team. These rights give him the power to refuse any trade, basically giving him a no-trade clause.

No-trade clauses are almost always less-than-ideal. This is definitely the case for an aging player under contract for $35.5 million over the next two years (vesting option for a third), especially when that player is average defensively and can only hit right-handed pitching. He was phenomenal last year considering his expectations, but this front office showed last year that they’re not afraid to trade fan-favorites and sell high in doing so. This is probably the highest Ethier’s value will ever be, so if they can get a solid starter or a good bullpen piece for Ethier, they should.

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